Melon Seeds, Mango (Vine Peach):
Description: Grow your own delicious fruit for pies! Fruit taste of honeydew melon and peach when cooked in desserts. The 3-inch fruit is the size of a peach, with a yellow rind and fruity-tasting white flesh. This variety was very popular in Victorian times for making sweet pickles, pies, and preserves. Developed in China and introduced into America in the 1880s. You can find easy recipes for melon pie online.
Cucumber Seeds, Armenian Yard-Long:
Description: Light green, mild tasting, deeply ribbed fruit. The elongated fruit yields uniform, easily digestible, fluted slices. They are apt to twist and coil growing on the ground, but develop nice and straight when hanging from a trellis. Fruit reaches over 24 inches long, but is best harvested at about 15 inches. This classic Armenian “cucumber” is actually a melon genetically.
Cucumber Seeds, Xylangouro Melon:
Description: A delicious silky textured cucumber like melon originally from the Greek island of Chios. Mild lightly honey- sweet flesh is velvety soft, a superb heat tolerant cucumber substitute. Our seeds were shared with us from the St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Monastery gardens in Roscoe, NY. We have shared seeds with this monastery garden in the past and were delighted went they sent us seeds for this large, lightly fuzzy cucumber like melon. The vines are vigorous and heat loving, producing masses of these “cukes” which are very similar to Armenian cucumber.
Melon Seeds, Ananas D'Amerique A Chair Verte:
Description: Thomas Jefferson loved this antique French/American heirloom muskmelon, and one taste of this juicy variety will easily explain why. The texture and flavor are sublime, and it drips with honey sweet flavor. Jefferson grew this heirloom in 1794. It was offered commercially in the U.S. in 1824, and it was illustrated in color in France in 1854 in the Album Vilmorin. This wonderful variety has become very rare. The fruit has netted skin and light green flesh that is firm, sweet, and highly perfumed. Productive plants can be trained up a trellis.
Description: Banana-shaped fruit with smooth, yellow skin and sweet, spicy, salmon-colored flesh. 16-24 inches long, 5-12 lbs. It was listed in 1885 by J. H. Gregory’s Catalogue, which said, “When ripe it reminds one of a large, overgrown banana... It smells like one, having a remarkably powerful and delicious fragrance.” This is one of Jere’s all-time favorites, being very sweet and great for specialty markets.
Description: Unique, sweet, citrus-like taste! Oblong fruit is brownish-green and netted outside, lime green within. In our trials the flavor was an unusual, yet very delicious, sweet-tart combination with a distinct citrus taste. The name simply means “old melon from Samarra,” which is a city in northern Iraq. Original seed was furnished by our friend, Iraqi seed collector Nael Aziz, who writes that this variety is known to have been grown in the Abbasid Period over 1,000 years ago! Endangered due to war and the aggressive promotion of patented seeds in Iraq.
Description: This melon was grown by General John Bidwell, who received his seed stock from the USDA in 1869. He was a soldier in the Civil War and also became a U.S. senator. He grew this melon in Chico, California. It produces massive fruit that weigh about 16 lbs each and are football-shaped. The orange flesh is sweet and creamy. Dr. Amy Goldman says “tastes like heavenly orange sherbet,” in her book Melons for the Passionate Grower.
Description: Very sweet, pale green flesh is just marvelous. Lovely yellow fruit has a unique, lacy netting, like a work of art. This truly incredible melon trialed with top marks. An all-time favorite honeydew type. Sugary flesh is so flavorful and rich. This variety is a dream for market growers and will command high prices with gourmets and chefs alike! It was listed in Vilmorin’s book, The Vegetable Garden, in 1885 but it is very rare now. Let’s make this variety a market favorite again!
Description: The famous French melon--super sweet and very fragrant. Light gray-green skin, smooth round 2- to 3- lb fruit, bright orange flesh. These are top sellers at high-dollar markets. This is always a favorite here. We just love the sweet flesh that is so firm.
Description: Delicious Crenshaw type melons have sweet, fine-flavored pale orange flesh. The green-skinned rind develops orange spots when ripe. Each fruit weighs 4 lbs. This famous California heirloom was introduced in 1920 by Oliver Crane, whose family has been farming near Santa Rosa for six generations.
Description: Easy-to-grow, early-to-mature Asian melon with a succulent sweet flavor and crisp flesh. This gourmet variety originated in Japan and became a commercial success before it was discontinued in the early 1980s. The small, oblong- to pear-shaped fruits weigh about ½ pound each. Smooth, golden skin with incredible sweet, uniquely aromatic white flesh. This delicious, personal-sized melon was almost lost and we are delighted to see it shine once again.
Melon Seeds, Golden Honeymoon:
Description: A honeydew melon with a brilliant, gold rind and delicious green flesh; unique flavor. Two weeks earlier than regular honeydew; excellent yields. Will rarely sunburn; a great keeper, unique and rare!
Description: An outstanding golden-meated version of Jenny Lind, developed by longtime friend and the late master seed saver Merlyn Niedens. Short vines just go wild producing these succulent, sweet 2- lb. beauties. Give this one a try at upscale markets. Early and productive.
Description: (Cucumis melo). 75 days. (Also known as Israel Melon) An excellent-tasting, early melon and our favorite for texture. Commonly thought to have originated in Israel, where its name means “anchor” but may have actually originated in Hungary. Flavorful green flesh; good yields of nearly round, 3-4 lb fruit; a beautiful melon! Very fragrant. A longtime favorite of the Gettle family.
Description: A classic, silky-fleshed super sweet market muskmelon from the early 20th century. In 1923, I.D. Hale encountered a Japanese American market farmer growing this variety in Imperial County (near Brawley, California). This sweet, smooth, orange-fleshed melon has been a staple for home and market growers since!
Description: This gorgeous teardrop- shaped melon from Punjab, India, is dripping with sweetness, boasting a sky-high sugar brix level and exquisite flavor. Introduced in 1967 by Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana, India, the Hara Madhu is an improvement on several old local landrace varieties from what is now the state of Haryana, just south of Punjab. Its incredible flavor is a testament to the local flavors of the region. It is improved to grow vigorously in a wide range of climates, including the U.S. 10- to 12- foot long vines produce plenty of 2-3-pound fruit that are striped green and cream, with a white flesh and a shorter shelf life.
Melon Seeds, Honeydew Orange Flesh:
Description: The crisp and crunchy texture of a honeydew with fragrant orange flesh and a complex muskmelon and honeydew flavor! Light green, smooth skin; cantaloupe-colored orange flesh. A unique twist with sublime flavor!
Description: This pocket sized melon is a Japanese delicacy, with crisp, sweet flesh and beautiful tiger striped skin. These melons top out at 10-12 ounces each. Vines will produce profusions of these tasty striped cucurbits. In Japan these are savored as a yummy dessert, or added or salads and savory preparations—a great all-purpose melon!
Description: Lusciously sweet, wildly productive, and easy to grow, this green-fleshed melon is named for Jenny Lind, the famous 19th century Swedish soprano whose American tour made her a superstar. The melon first appeared in Philadelphia markets around 1840. It was a new selection of an older variety called the Centre melon, said to have originated in Armenia. It is not entirely clear how the turban-shaped melon with the distinctive knob on its bottom end came to be named for the “Swedish Nightingale,” but references to it as such began appearing just a few years after Jenny Lind wrapped up her two-year tour of America in 1852. In its day, the Jenny Lind did not spread much beyond the mid-Atlantic region, though today it is a culinary classic!
Description: Easy to grow, early and so productive. The flavor is world class. The perfect variety for most gardens, the best overall melon we carry! This amazing classic Indian melon was collected by Joseph Simcox. The fruit is a brilliant copper red and is striped in green and cream, making this an extremely unusual and beautiful melon. The pale green flesh is sweet, aromatic and slightly musky in taste. Joe believes that this melon originated in the Punjab, and he spent more than 8 years trying to find seeds of this extremely interesting variety. Vine produces lots of 2-lb fruit. Customer favorite!
Description: 70 days. We’re thrilled to offer this delicious mini-melon, known for its high sugar content and delightful flavor. These two-pound melons start out green and turn a lovely golden color when they’re ripe. This old-time variety from Kazakhstan is tough, drought-resistant, and a good climber. It’s an early-maturing gem, once offered by the Gurney Seed Company in Yankton, South Dakota, and now available for you to enjoy.
Melon Seeds, Kiku Chrysanthemum:
Description: A very rare and historic selection from Japan, this compact melon is ideal for pots. It is named for the Japanese chrysanthemum flower, which it is said to resemble. One of the best melons we found in Japan, with an incredibly unique flavor. Early and very productive. Its mellow, creamy flesh tastes like Greek yogurt with a hint of lychee; the flavor has also been compared to pear. The origin of Kiku melon is the Makuwa Uri melon, which came to Japan from China sometime in antiquity.
Melon Seeds, Madhu Ras Rajasthan Honey:
Description: This is a small but delicious melon from Rajasthan, India. The name Madhu Ras means honey melon, an appropriate name for such a sweet fruit. These melons thrive in the hot and dry conditions of western India, and they will grow in similar conditions in the U.S. One of our favorites in trials, the flesh is soft and silky with a classic muskmelon taste. This is a rare find brought to us from Botanical Explorer Joseph Simcox, who found this special heirloom at a market in Delhi, India.
Melon Seeds, Petit Gris de Rennes:
Description: Dense, 2- to 4- lb. fruit has orange flesh that is superbly sweet, flavorful, and perfumed. This variety is early and well adapted to cool climates. This fine French variety is of the best quality and is the favorite melon of the French melon expert and author Bruno Defay. Rare in the U.S. One of our most requested market melons; specialty growers love them! We continue to receive rave reviews about this melon, which is surely one of the best Charentais types.
Melon Seeds, Prescott Fond Blanc:
Description: 70 days. The most unique and beautiful French melon we sell! The fruit is 4-9 lbs., very flattened and ribbed, with warts and bumps. Melons have grey/green skin turning straw color; flesh is salmon-orange. Was once known as one of the best melons, it was mentioned in the 1860’s, but it likely is much older. The flavor is very rich if picked at perfection, and the fragrance is heavenly. This is a favorite melon of ours, almost unheard of in this country.
Melon Seeds, Rich Sweetness 132:
Description: A tiny and wondrous melon from the former Soviet Union. Vibrant color, intense sweet aroma and juicy, honeydew-like flesh make this a favorite edible ornamental. Allow the vines to climb a trellis or fence, and you will be rewarded with luminous, striped fruit about the size of a tennis ball. Its whimsical eye appeal and intoxicating scent will transform landscape and garden designs into a fairy land, but the fruit isn’t just photogenic; it’s also deliciously sweet and juicy in texture! The vines produce a large yield, early in the season.
Description: A sweet treasure from historic Japan. These delightful melons are a mini-honeydew type! The Lilliputian 3- to 4-inch round melons are very sweet with a high sugar content. Crisp and crunchy; they have edible skins. This fine Japanese variety was developed by Sakata’s Seed Co., of Yokohama.
Description: A mouth-watering delicacy from ancient times, its superior taste and texture make this a top melon in our tasting trials. Each fruit weighs about 5 pounds with netted skin and thick, orange flesh dripping with honey sweet flavor. This Persian heirloom is thought to be the progenitor of the modern-day cantaloupe, and it has been a popular choice for centuries. One of Jere Gettle’s favorite melons to eat as a child, this heirloom has held a special place in many gardeners’ hearts as the granddaddy of all American-style cantaloupes! The Persian melon was a standard in early American gardens, and remained popular throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, but recently this melon has all but disappeared from the seed trade and is becoming quite rare. We are determined to save this supremely good variety that was a choice fruit of the great Persian empire.
Description: An Ohio heirloom that has been grown since the 1920s. According to legend, the sweet orange flesh is said to cause a state of passion if eaten straight from the garden on a moonlit summer night. It has succulent flesh that is very sweet, aromatic and very finely flavored. Fruit weighs 3- to 4- lbs. and is produced on vines that have some drought and wilt resistance.
Description: The most amazing looking melon we have grown. The fruit is vibrant yellow with brilliant fire-red, zigzag stripes (a few may be solid yellow), simply beautiful! It is also the most fragrant melon we have tried, with a rich, sweet, intoxicating aroma that will fill a room. The mild-tasting white flesh gets sweeter in dry climates. Small in size, the fruit weighs up to 1 lb. The vigorous plants yield heavily, even in dry conditions. This heirloom came from an Armenian market located in a mountain valley.
Description: A gourmet cantaloupe that has been tended by Mr. Tommy Apple in his home garden by the banks of the Snake River in eastern Oregon since the 1970s. Tommy received the seeds for this silky sweet melon from a local Oregon nurseryman in the early 1970s. The melons were introduced to Tommy as “Oriental melon” and were quite late maturing but remarkably tasty. The fruit of this eastern Oregon landrace is oblong and varies in size from football sized to jumbo. Over the decades, Tommy has selected for earlier maturation, but he says the incredible, sweet, mellow flavor and refined texture are just as good as the original melons he received almost 50 years ago. Tommy is our seed grower for this amazing variety and says that he harvests fruit by hand, visiting the garden each morning barefoot with a fruit sack slung around his shoulder. He says harvest is easy: the fruit picks itself! Indeed, the mature fruit turns a golden color and slips from the vine when perfectly ripe. Thanks to the hard work of Mr. Tommy Apple for this amazing heirloom.
Description: A delicious melon that has made a trip around the world! This variety has been grown in Lanzhou, China since it was introduced there in the 1940s by U.S. Vice President Henry Wallace. The white skinned, honeydew type melon has thick, heavy and sweet flesh that is rich in Vitamin C. Wallace founded the Pioneer Hi-Bred Seed Company, and in the 1940s he shared the seeds of this melon with Chinese locals.
Description: (Solanum caripense) This little tropical marvel, a relative of tomatoes and pepino, looks like a tiny watermelon and tastes like a tangy honeydew melon—although it’s not a true melon! About the size of a grape, it ripens to yellow or pale green with delicate striping and bursts with juicy, complex flavor, with hints of cucumber, melon, and citrus. This rare South American fruit produces abundantly over a long season, thriving in gardens and greenhouses, and can even be overwintered indoors. Started like tomatoes, it yields heavily from early August until frost in our Missouri gardens. Harvest when the fruit softens. Fun, unique, and absolutely delicious!
